Digimasters Shorts - Google DeepMind Unveils Reality-Bending Genie 3, Microsoft Launches Excel AI Copilot, UK Battles AI Chip Talent Crisis, Meta Rebrands AI Division Amid Fierce Competition

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Digimasters Shorts is your quick hit of the latest in the digital and tech world. Join hosts Adam Nagus and Carly Wilson as they distill cutting-edge AI breakthroughs, innovative tech developments, and industry shifts into concise, insightful updates. From the rollout of groundbreaking AI models like DeepMind's Genie 3 to advances in productivity tools with Microsoft's Copilot, and from national strategies for AI chip design to revolutionary battery materials, Digimasters Shorts keeps you informed in under 10 minutes. Tune in for expert analysis, emerging trends, and the future shaping tech today.

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Episode Transcript

Adam N2 (00:05):
Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, we are your hosts Adam
Nagus

Carly W (00:09):
and Carly Wilson delivering the latest scoop from
the digital realm.
Google DeepMind has announcedGenie 3, a groundbreaking AI
world model capable ofgenerating diverse, interactive
environments in real time at 24frames per second with 720p
resolution.
Building on over a decade ofresearch in simulated
environments, Genie 3 enhancesconsistency and realism while

(00:31):
allowing users to navigatecomplex virtual worlds
dynamically.
Unlike previous models, Genie 3maintains visual memory up to a
minute, enabling longer and morecomplex interactions.
The model supports promptableworld events, letting users
alter weather, add objects, orintroduce characters, greatly
expanding the scope forimmersive experiences.

(00:52):
It has been tested withDeepMind’s SIMA agent,
demonstrating the ability toachieve varied goals through
navigation in generated worlds.
Genie 3’s development marks asignificant step toward advanced
AI training and the path toartificial general intelligence
(AGI).
While it offers unprecedentedcreativity and educational
potential, the team emphasizesresponsible development,

(01:13):
involving strict safetyprotocols and limited early
access for research purposes.
The technology outperformsprevious methods by creating
dynamic, frame-by-frame worldswithout relying on explicit 3D
representations.
Despite its advances, the systemstill faces challenges in
long-term environmental accuracyand ethical use considerations.

(01:34):
DeepMind continues to refineGenie 3, aiming to expand access
while prioritizing safety andsocietal benefit.

Adam N2 (01:41):
Microsoft Excel is introducing a new AI-powered
function called COPILOT,designed to automate tasks like
generating summaries, tags, andtables based on selected cells.
This feature uses naturallanguage prompts to allow users
to instruct the AI on what to dowith their spreadsheet data.
Powered by Open A.I'sgpt-4.1-mini model, COPILOT can

(02:02):
classify feedback, summarizecontent, and work alongside
other Excel functions such as IFand SWITCH.
For example, users can classifycustomer feedback by applying a
simple formula referencing therelevant cells.
Microsoft assures that data usedwith COPILOT remains
confidential and is not used fortraining AI models.
However, the feature is limitedto 100 calculations every 10

(02:25):
minutes and cannot accessinformation outside the
spreadsheet.
Microsoft also cautions againstrelying on COPILOT for
high-stakes decisions ornumerical calculations due to
potential inaccuracies.
The feature is currentlyavailable in the Beta Channel on
Windows and Mac for Microsoft365 Copilot license holders.
Future updates may includeimproved AI models and web

(02:47):
access capabilities.
COPILOT marks a significant stepin integrating artificial
intelligence into everydayproductivity tools.
The Council for Science andTechnology warns the U.K must
seize a once-in-20-years chanceto develop a world-class AI chip
design industry.
This push is about more thaneconomic growth; it addresses
national security andtechnological sovereignty.

(03:10):
The global market forspecialized AI chips is rapidly
expanding, expected to grow 30%annually and dominate
semiconductors by 2030.
The CST clarifies that chipdesign, a creative and
knowledge-intensive process, isdistinct from costly chip
manufacturing, aligning with U.Kstrengths.
Their ambitious goal is for U.Kcompanies to design 50 new AI

(03:31):
chip products within five years.
However, the U.K faces a severetalent shortage, needing an
additional 5,000 chip designersatop the current deficit of
7,000.
The report urges governmentinvestment in education and
training, including bursariesand national design courses.
It also highlights opportunitiesin optoelectronics, a field

(03:52):
where the U.K already excels.
Coordinated government strategyis essential, as current efforts
remain fragmented acrossdepartments.
Industry experts acknowledge thechallenge but remain hopeful,
citing the U.K's strongsemiconductor research and
companies like Arm asfoundations for success.

Carly W (04:09):
Researchers are actively seeking new materials
to replace lithium in batteries,aiming for longer-lasting,
environmentally friendly energystorage.
While lithium-ion remainsdominant, alternatives are
critical for advancingindustries like electric
vehicles, which requireefficient and safe batteries.
A recent study published in thejournal Cell highlights the use

(04:29):
of generative AI to rapidlyscreen a vast array of
materials.
The challenge wasn't findingpromising candidates, but
efficiently evaluating them, atask AI excelled at.
The researchers identified fivetransition metal oxide
(TMO)-based materials with open,spacious structures ideal for
ion movement.
These properties could result insafer, more effective batteries

(04:51):
in the future.
A.I's ability to acceleratematerial discovery mirrors its
impact in fields like medicaldiagnostics.
By narrowing down options, AIenables scientists to focus on
the most viable materials forfurther research.
This represents a significantstep towards overcoming the
limitations of currentlithium-ion technology.
Ultimately, this approach maylead to breakthroughs in energy

(05:14):
storage that benefit bothconsumers and the environment.
Meta has officially reorganizedits artificial intelligence
division into four new groupsunder the banner of Meta
Superintelligence Labs, or MSL.
This restructuring was announcedby Alexandr Wang, the new chief
AI officer who joined Meta inJune and previously founded
Scale AI.

(05:34):
The key component of MSL is agroup named TBD Labs, which will
focus on developing foundationalmodels like the Llama series.
The other three groups withinMSL will concentrate on AI
research, product integration,and infrastructure respectively.
This overhaul comes as part ofMeta’s response to intensifying
competition from rivals such asOpen A.I, Anthropic, and Google

(05:56):
DeepMind.
Mark Zuckerberg has beendirectly involved in recruiting
for this initiative,highlighting the company's
commitment to AI innovation.
The latest Llama model releasethis April underscores Meta's
ongoing AI development efforts.
Analysts see the reorganizationas a strategic move to
accelerate Meta’s AIcapabilities and regain
competitive momentum.

(06:17):
Meta’s renewed focus signals thegrowing importance of advanced
AI technologies in the techlandscape.
The company aims to solidify itsposition as a leader in AI
through this comprehensiveinternal realignment.

Don (06:29):
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